Meet Our Team

Jesse Whittle-Utter, LMFT
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with an office located in Berkeley, CA. I also offer services online. Please read below and check out my videos to get more of a sense of me.
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My own healing journey and life experience as an artist, photographer, nature lover, traveler, student, therapy client, gay man, Buddhist practitioner, psychedelic journeyer and worker for social justice enable me to bring a breadth of understanding and wisdom to the lives of the people with whom I work. Below is a summary of my education and professional experience.
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Click here to watch videos of me discussing my approach to therapy. Scroll down for more information about my background.
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Katie Li, AMFT, APCC
I support adults with neurodivergent traits in navigating trauma, emotion regulation, and relationship issues. I incorporate Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Internal Family Systems (IFS) in my sessions to process traumatic experiences, build practical mindfulness skills, and support self-compassion and a deeper understanding of yourself. I value psychoeducation and transparency in therapy. I take time to explain the framework behind our work so you can build both insight and attunement to your emotional and bodily experience, not just understand things intellectually.
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Therapy with me centers on a genuine, trusting relationship paired with thoughtful, evidence-based therapeutic techniques. We focus on small, doable goals because progress often shows up in subtle shifts rather than dramatic breakthroughs. I am also deeply intentional about noticing growth, as many of us have learned to feel only relief, not accomplishment. We will take time to recognize those moments, track them, and celebrate them as part of the healing process.
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In our work together, there is room for humor, grief, resistance, and ambivalence. These experiences are all part of being human, and we will make space for whatever shows up. At times, I will gently challenge you when it facilitates growth, while walking alongside you with steady support and care. My goal is that as we navigate this journey together, you will begin to understand yourself more clearly, relate to yourself with more compassion, and move through the world with a bit more steadiness and choice.


Heather Kline, ASW
Hello, I’m Heather, an Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW). I work with adults, couples, families, and parents facing challenges that can feel overwhelming, isolating, or difficult to navigate alone. Many of the people I support are impacted by a loved one’s addiction or incarceration, caring for or advocating for a loved one with a disability or developmental difference, adjusting to the realities of neurodiversity within themselves, their relationships, or their families, or navigating significant life transitions, including perimenopause.
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My approach is collaborative, practical, and compassionate. I draw from attachment-based therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), mindfulness, and solution-focused approaches. I believe therapy works best when we partner together—making sense of patterns, learning skills, and identifying what is within your control, while also honoring the emotional impact of what you’ve been carrying.
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I focus on helping make complex experiences feel more understandable by offering clarity, honesty, and a non-judgmental approach. I encourage a kind and supportive relationship with yourself as an essential part of meaningful change. When appropriate, I incorporate humor and direct reflection to support insight and relief while honoring the seriousness of your concerns.
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My practice is grounded in respect for each person’s identity, values, and lived experience. I approach my work with cultural humility and an awareness of how systems and social contexts shape people’s experiences.
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Before becoming a therapist, I spent many years working in social service systems, supporting individuals and families impacted by substance use, incarceration, and developmental disabilities. This background informs my understanding of how systems affect people’s lives and helps me support clients in navigating both emotional and practical challenges with confidence.
Jesse's Education & Training
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University of California, Berkeley, 2004, BA | Psychology and Art Practice
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Pacifica Graduate Institute, 2012, MA | Masters Counseling Psychology​
Post-graduate training
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UC Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics (BCSP) Psychedelic Facilitation Training Program (Berkeley, CA, September 2023 - May 2024)
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Fluence Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Theory & Methodology Training (Virtual, July 2023)
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Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) Summer Immersion Education in MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy (Virtual, June-July 2023)
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Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Therapy (AEDP) Essential Skills 1 (AEDP West, 2018)
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Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Basic & Advanced Training (Sonoma Psychotherapy Training Institute, Fall 2015)
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Law & Ethics with an LGBTQ Focus (May 2015)
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Somatic Attachment Therapy 12-week Skills Training (Oakland, CA, Fall 2014)
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Trauma Resiliency Model - Level I (Trauma Resource Institute, August 2013)
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Steps To Love, a workshop for helping gay men navigate the dating world (March 2014)
Professional Affiliations
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MAPS
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California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT)
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East Bay Therapist Association
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AEDP Institute/AEDP West
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Bay Area Open Minds
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Kink-Friendly Professionals
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Poly-Friendly Professionals
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Gaylesta
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California Board of Behavioral Sciences
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Alumni Association of Pacifica Graduate Institute
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Alumni Association of the University of California, Berkeley
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Independent Clinical Consultation Groups